Impregnating apparatus



y 1932- DU B.-REES 1,858,111

IMPREGNATING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 14, 1931 gwwzniov ZOLZZ'S 0(2 5026 flees,

Patented May 10, 1932 UNITED STATES LOUIS no 3018 BEES, YORK, N. Y, ASSIGNOB '20 ms ms SONS,

INCORPORATED, 01 NEW YORK, N', Y.

mnnemlrme arrm'rus Application fled October 14, 1881. Serial Io. 588,848,

This invention relates to the impre ation of fibrous or porous materials such as eather,

textile fabrics, wood, asbestos, non-vitrified the pores or the spaces between the fibers of such materials with an suitable impregnating agent which may ow under pressure.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus including a variable sized 2o basin across the mouth of which may be placed the article to be impregnated, and the construction of the apparatus is such that just before an impregnatin fluid is forced from the basin into the artic e, a tight seal is made between the article and the mouth of the basin.

' In my application Serial No. 539,888 filed May 25, 1931, I have disclosed a process and apparatus for the impregnation of various articles with fluid impregnating agents, and

in that apparatus, a spring supported cylinder cooperates with a piston to form a vari-' able sized basin to contain the impregnating agent. When the article to be impregnated is placed across the mouth of th1s basin and pressure is exerted to force either the piston toward thecylinder, vice versa, or both; the

springs function to first cause an annular lip at the mouth of the basin to penetrate the article to provide an effective seal to prevent the escape of the impregnating fluid between the lip and the article, and afterwards, as the pressure on the piston and cylinder is increased, the impregnating fluid 1S forced into the article.

Another ob'ect of the present invention is to improve t e apparatus disclosed in said application.

With the foregoing objects outlined and with other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features hereinafter'described in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and more particularly pointed out in the appended cla1ms.

In the drawing I The figure is a vertical sectional view part, ly in elevation of one form of the im roved apparatus shown in place in a suitab e type of ress. 4

n the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing, 4 designates any suitable type of base from which rises a plurality of pistons 5 and auxiliary cylinders 6.

Arranged above the base is a main cylin-- der block 7 formin a plurality of main piston bores 8 which orm part of and communicate with a variable 'sized basin 9 arranged in the top of the block 7.

Auxiliary pistons 10 which support the cylinder block 7 operate in the auxiliary cylinders 6, and the bores of the latter communicateeby passageways 11 with any suitable source of hydraulic pressure (not shown). Obviously, when such pressure is exerted within the bores of the auxiliary cylinders, it will tend to raise the plungers 10 and to lift the cylinder block 7.

Coil springs 10", which may surround the auxiliary plungers 10, act to yieldingly sup port the block 7 above the cylinders 6.

At the mouth of the basin, I arrange one or more annular lips 12 having relatively sharp edges adapted to penetrate the sheet or article 13- which is placed over the basin 9. After the sheet or article has been so placed, I ,prefer'to superpose on the same, A a sheet of wire mesh fabric or the like 14, and over this I place a rigid plate 15 provided with perforations 16. The reticulated fabric prevents the material to be impregnated'from entering the perforations 16 when pressure is exerted. 4

In operation, such apparatus is placed in any sultable press, for example, in one having 95 an anvil member 17 and a platen 18, the latter being constructed to permit the perforations 16 to communicate with a chamber or the like, where the pressure will be less than that exerted on the fluid impregnating agent con- 100 article 13. Then the platen 18 is lowered until it contacts with the perforated plate. At this time, pressure is exerted from a suitable source through the passageway 11 into the bores of the cylinders 6, so that the plungers 10 are raised to force the block 7 upwardly and to cause the lip or lips 12 to penetrate the article 13. This effectively seals the line of contact between the lip or lips 12 and the article 13, before the main pressure is exerted to cause the impregnating material to enter the article.

When the seal has been effected in this manner, the platen 18 is caused to descend and it pushes downwardly theparts 15, 14, 13 and 7, and this obviously results in reducing the size of the basin 9. Consequently, the impregnating fluid contained in the vessel is subjected to constantly increasing pressure and must flow into the article 13, or upwardly through such article.

Of course, when the article has been impregnated to the desired extent, and the laten is raised, and pressure is released In the cylinders 6, the springs 10 will function to lift the block 7 to normal position, and then the members 14 and 15, as well as the article 13, may be removed, and the operation may be repeated with another article.

If desired, the perforated plate 15 and reticulated sheet 14 may be connected with the platen 18 so as to move with the platen.

The shape of the basin 9, may be rectangular or it may be of any suitable shape to accommodate the article to be impregnated. Furthermore, in such an apparatus, I may employ either one or more of the main pistons 5. Moreover, while I prefer to use oil or rubbery compounds as an impregnating agent, I am aware that the invention may be used in connection with any suitable impregnating agent, and with any article which may be impregnated by such a machine.

It will also be evident that the sealing means disclosed herein may be used in any environment where it is desired to effect a tight seal between the mouth of a basin or the like, and an article which may be penetrated by an annular lip.

From the foregoing it is believed that the construction, operation and advantages of the invention may be readily understood by those skilled in the art, and I am aware that changes may be made in the details disclosed,

without departing from the spirit of the in vention, as expressed in the claims. f

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is

1. An article impregnating apparatus comprising a piston member, a cylinder member, said members forming a variable sized basin over the mouth of which the article to be impregnated may be placed, one member being movable relatively to the other, ressureexerting means for causing one 0 said members to move relatively to the other for forcing an impregnating fluid from the basin into an article arranged across the mouth of the same, and pressure fluid operated means for effecting a tight seal between the article and the mouth of the basin, the last mentioned means including an auxiliary cylinder and piston.

2. An article impregnating apparatus comprising a piston member, a cylinder member, said members forming a variable sized basin over the mouth of which the article to be impregnated may be placed, one member being movable relatively to the other, pressure exerting means for causing one of said members to move relatively to the other for forcing an impregnating fluid from the basin into an article arranged across the mouth of the same, pressure fluid operated means for effecting a tight seal between the article and the mouth of the basin, the last mentioned means including an auxiliary piston and cylinder, and yielding means for normally holding the members in definitely spaced relation.-

3. An article impregnating apparatus comprising a piston member, a cylinder member, said members forming a variable sized basin over the mouth of which an article to be impregnated may be placed, one member being movable relatively to the other, pressure exerting means for causing one of said members to move relatively to the other for forcing an impregnating substance from the basin into an article placed over the mouth of the basin, and means for moving the cylinder member in a direction away from the piston member to provide an effective seal between the mouth of the basin and said article, the last mentioned means including an auxiliary plunger and cylinder cooperating with said members.

4. An article impregnating apparatus comprising a piston member, a cylinder member, said members forming a variable sized basin over the mouth of which an article to be impregnated may be placed, one member being movable relatlvely to the other, pressure exerting means for causing one of said members to move relatively to the other for forcing an impregnating substance from the basin into an article placed over the mouth of the basin, means for moving the cylinder member in a direction away from the piston member to provide an effective seal between the mouth tioned means including iiasani and one another.

an aunli plunger cylinder cooperating with sai member, and ylelding me 5 members in a ans for normally holding said definite relation relatively to In testimony whereof, I have signed this application.

\ LOUIS on 1301s BEES.' 

